Depending on what you are looking for, I might be able to do what you need if you already have the image and just need standard titling and appropriate sizing. wouldn't want to claim I would/could do anything fancy like actual artwork, but I did the ones on my titles at Amazon using public domain images. I won't claim to be an graphic artist because I haven't done much of that in a long time, have been more in the creative/fine arts area lately.

I use Paint.net or Pixlr, and I'm able to design covers fairly easily with those resources. If you already have the photo you want to work with, Pixlr (or PicMonkey) will work very well for you--you can edit the picture, add filter effects, overlay font, etc. An important key is to size the image right at 800x600 (HxW) and if the picture or cover is white, add a small, 2 pixel border around the edge in black (or dark blue).

You need to decide if you want something assembled or something created from scratch. There are great stock photo sites that offer a very large quantity of images of all levels of quality and cost. You can simply pick a few images, and combine them to create the scene you want. If that is the route you want to go then almost anyone can help you with that.

If you want something truly original, just for your... then as mentioned check out DeviantART and hire one of them.

You need to decide if you want something assembled or something created from scratch. There are great stock photo sites that offer a very large quantity of images of all levels of quality and cost. You can simply pick a few images, and combine them to create the scene you want. If that is the route you want to go then almost anyone can help you with that.

If you want something truly original, just for your... then as mentioned check out DeviantART and hire one of them.

And you may as said before be able to find someone over at NaNoWriMo as at least one person I know of that takes part in NaNo also has a DeviantArt account. I know because they made a cover for me for the piece I tried to get written for last Nov.

I've been trying to use Photoshop Elements to design my book cover, but am finding a significant number of limitations with the product (can't seem to just paint with brushes, can't do a dithered wide border etc.).

Has anyone had experience of Adobe Creative Suite? I'm considering upgrading to this, but does it allow more artistic freedom? I want something more than just a photo editor.

I've been trying to use Photoshop Elements to design my book cover, but am finding a significant number of limitations with the product (can't seem to just paint with brushes, can't do a dithered wide border etc.).

Has anyone had experience of Adobe Creative Suite? I'm considering upgrading to this, but does it allow more artistic freedom? I want something more than just a photo editor.

Yep. (Corel) Painter. From a photo I took East of Denver.

Painter is a "natural media" type of painting app as opposed to photoshop which can do the same thing but is a bit more work to get there. There is a free trial of Painter if you want to check it out. I don't have Creative Suite, I do have the (almost) latest Photoshop and use it for my photography, but use Painter for my creative/fine art work.

Painter is a "natural media" type of painting app as opposed to photoshop which can do the same thing but is a bit more work to get there. There is a free trial of Painter you want to check it out. I don't have Creative Suite, I do have the (almost) latest Photoshop and us it for my photography, but use Painter for my creative/fine art work.

Thanks (won't let me give you any more karma at the mo...), I'll have a look at Painter .

I love the full Photoshop CS line... but I am very good with editing photos, and building scences from others work. I am not a painter... so can not speak to creating work in it. Also as a student, it costs me WAY less then what it would cost most ppl to buy. I think it was around $150 for CS5.